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the release below is sent to you on behalf of the Save Our Sharks
organisation. Please contact their organiser Ian Burrett on 01776 840 346 or e-mail at
ianburrett@btinternet.org if you would like further information.
information
Issued on behalf of Save Our Sharks (SOS) by the Scottish Federation of Sea
Anglers (SFSA)
SOS contact: Ian Burrett, telephone 01776 840 346 or ianburrett@save-our-sharks.org
01465 712518
SFSA Contact: Barry Scholes, public relations officer, SFSA Tel. 01465 712518, mobile 07769804024 barry.scholes@gentechsensors.com
September 24 2005
Anglers want shark killing stopped
A new group seeking to boost the development of sportfishing around the
British coast has been formed by sea anglers to stop the killing of two common species of sharks, tope and smoothound.
This will effectively reserve these fish for sea anglers and follows another
plan also aiming to increase sportfishing by managing stocks of bass to allow
them to grow larger and more plentiful around Britain.
Save our Sharks (SOS), and the Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society (BASS),
want the Marine Bill expected next year to meet their demands.
Ian Burrett, a 50-year-old charter skipper in Drummore, near Stranraer,
Scotland, who has been tagging sharks since 1992, said Save Our Sharks was formed after recent allegations that UK commercial fishermen were planning to start catching sharks and exporting the fins to Asia.
“We are relieved this particular threat seems to have disappeared,” he said.
“but we want to prevent similar ones in future. That such a slaughter could
even be contemplated is an example of why Britain’s fish stocks are a shadow
of what they were”.
“Our sharks could be eradicated in 3 years to 5 years by commercial fishing”.
”Tope and smoothound have no history of commercial value in the UK and to get them listed as recreational species wouldn’t cause any job losses or
hardship.”
\"Shark fishing is an integral part of the current growth in sea angling on
which a growing number of livelihoods depend, particularly in rural areas,” Mr. Burrett added.
“Anglers will invest huge amounts of money in their sport. A 50 lb. tope
caught and released may be worth hundreds of pounds to a local economy but only £10 at a fish market. And when it’s gone, it’s gone.\"
Recreational anglers treat sharks with care and almost every one caught is returned alive to the sea. Many are tagged to help learn more about their importance as apex predators. It is not generally realized, Mr. Burrett said, that marine ecosystems could go out of balance and not necessarily to the benefit of commercial species, if apex predators were removed.
SOS is also concerned with protecting other UK native shark species including porbeagle, spur dogs, rays and skate. It plans to develop activities of interest for both shark anglers and people who just care about sharks and the seas.
Save our Sharks can be contacted at www.save-our-sharks.org by e-mail at
ianburrett@save-our-sharks.org or telephone 01776 840 346. Mr. Burrett is also the Scottish co-ordinator for the Sea Anglers’ Conservation Network.
END
organisation. Please contact their organiser Ian Burrett on 01776 840 346 or e-mail at
ianburrett@btinternet.org if you would like further information.
information
Issued on behalf of Save Our Sharks (SOS) by the Scottish Federation of Sea
Anglers (SFSA)
SOS contact: Ian Burrett, telephone 01776 840 346 or ianburrett@save-our-sharks.org
01465 712518
SFSA Contact: Barry Scholes, public relations officer, SFSA Tel. 01465 712518, mobile 07769804024 barry.scholes@gentechsensors.com
September 24 2005
Anglers want shark killing stopped
A new group seeking to boost the development of sportfishing around the
British coast has been formed by sea anglers to stop the killing of two common species of sharks, tope and smoothound.
This will effectively reserve these fish for sea anglers and follows another
plan also aiming to increase sportfishing by managing stocks of bass to allow
them to grow larger and more plentiful around Britain.
Save our Sharks (SOS), and the Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society (BASS),
want the Marine Bill expected next year to meet their demands.
Ian Burrett, a 50-year-old charter skipper in Drummore, near Stranraer,
Scotland, who has been tagging sharks since 1992, said Save Our Sharks was formed after recent allegations that UK commercial fishermen were planning to start catching sharks and exporting the fins to Asia.
“We are relieved this particular threat seems to have disappeared,” he said.
“but we want to prevent similar ones in future. That such a slaughter could
even be contemplated is an example of why Britain’s fish stocks are a shadow
of what they were”.
“Our sharks could be eradicated in 3 years to 5 years by commercial fishing”.
”Tope and smoothound have no history of commercial value in the UK and to get them listed as recreational species wouldn’t cause any job losses or
hardship.”
\"Shark fishing is an integral part of the current growth in sea angling on
which a growing number of livelihoods depend, particularly in rural areas,” Mr. Burrett added.
“Anglers will invest huge amounts of money in their sport. A 50 lb. tope
caught and released may be worth hundreds of pounds to a local economy but only £10 at a fish market. And when it’s gone, it’s gone.\"
Recreational anglers treat sharks with care and almost every one caught is returned alive to the sea. Many are tagged to help learn more about their importance as apex predators. It is not generally realized, Mr. Burrett said, that marine ecosystems could go out of balance and not necessarily to the benefit of commercial species, if apex predators were removed.
SOS is also concerned with protecting other UK native shark species including porbeagle, spur dogs, rays and skate. It plans to develop activities of interest for both shark anglers and people who just care about sharks and the seas.
Save our Sharks can be contacted at www.save-our-sharks.org by e-mail at
ianburrett@save-our-sharks.org or telephone 01776 840 346. Mr. Burrett is also the Scottish co-ordinator for the Sea Anglers’ Conservation Network.
END
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